Using crash cymbals as high hats

Paul Blood

Paul Blood

Junior Member
So I spent part of the morning, digging through my closet, looking at some of my old cymbal. I found a 16 inch Zildjian that I haven’t used in probably 30 years! I prefer 18-20 crashes now….

Anyways, I thought it might be interesting to try this old 16” crash as a high hat. I probably got the cymbal back in 1980 or so. It weighs 3 pounds, I’m not even sure what series is it? It’s just labeled “Zildjian”. Any thoughts of what would pair up well with it?
 

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another one..

3 lbs= 1360 g
I'd use that as a bottom
and look for a 900-1000 (common) for Top

947/1267
is an old A combo 16 I use +/-
 
jda said:
another one..

3 lbs= 1360 g
I'd use that as a bottom
and look for a 900-1000 (common) for Top

947/1267
is an old A combo 16 I use +/-
Click to expand...
So you think I should look for a 16 “ thin, and use my old cymbal on bottom?
 
YES... start looking...in theback used yards of Ebay.. Good Luck find a Thin (know/ask the weight) 16 and GO
 
I use a Paiste 14 inch Sig fast crash as my top on a regular bottom.
Sounds nice.
 
Paul Blood said:
So I spent part of the morning, digging through my closet, looking at some of my old cymbal. I found a 16 inch Zildjian that I haven’t used in probably 30 years! I prefer 18-20 crashes now….

Anyways, I thought it might be interesting to try this old 16” crash as a high hat. I probably got the cymbal back in 1980 or so. It weighs 3 pounds, I’m not even sure what series is it? It’s just labeled “Zildjian”. Any thoughts of what would pair up well with it?
Click to expand...
I use 2 17" Heartbeat crashes as a HH at my church
 
old As can't go wrong
/
old Ks..
16's:
NStamp 1275g
IntStamp 1043g
Type4 era 1271g

I will also mix those into a 16" hihat brew
 
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Paul Blood said:
So I spent part of the morning, digging through my closet, looking at some of my old cymbal. I found a 16 inch Zildjian that I haven’t used in probably 30 years! I prefer 18-20 crashes now….

Anyways, I thought it might be interesting to try this old 16” crash as a high hat. I probably got the cymbal back in 1980 or so. It weighs 3 pounds, I’m not even sure what series is it? It’s just labeled “Zildjian”. Any thoughts of what would pair up well with it?
Click to expand...
Zildjian only made one series in 1980: A Zildjian's!

3 pounds puts it around 1600 grams, that's heavy for a 16", it's probably a medium or rock crash, get another 16" A Zildjian and make a pair of hats!
 
type85 said:
Zildjian only made one series in 1980: A Zildjian's!

3 pounds puts it around 1600 grams, that's heavy for a 16", it's probably a medium or rock crash, get another 16" A Zildjian and make a pair of hats!
Click to expand...
The hi hats that I got too back in 1980 are also Zildjian, and the stamp is still visible, that says “rock”. So my 16” crash is probably a “ rock” model too. Funny thing is my jazz drumming buddies absolutely love my “ rock” hi hats!
 
When searching, also measure your 16” crash and verify the actual size. I had a 17” Thin Crash I wanted to use as a hat, and found out it was 17.25”. So I was asking sellers to measure theirs to make sure theirs was also 17.25”. Zildjian fudges their sizing a bit. When I went to Paiste, they’re actually accurate.
 
Every pair I've heard as I have tried myself sound utterly dull, crunchy, and as clean as a heralding "knight's jog in armor" chick.

By the way to those who do use crashes, besides thickness and density, are you taking into consideration the bow and bell profiles?

With Sabian, even in the same series, there are bow and bell variations.
I don't know, but that may just be me as to why pairing two crashes is a fool's errand when so many hats are designed to fit sonically as well as prolifically - even the few popular larger sized hats.

Edit* If it sounds good to you, then go for it! :)
 
Those two A's I mention above. Top 947g 16" was a no-ink and light crash. Bottom is a 16" 1267g inked Medium Ride..
Because that's what was at the time available I found second hand. Shape and all not as imperative as weight. Worked out
 
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Just thought @Paul Blood you're in a fortunate position. You already possess/own the hefty 16 for bottom which would be...which may have been the "harder one to find".... Finding a used lighter top should now be a pleasant (easier) experience..
 
Bo Eder said:
When searching, also measure your 16” crash and verify the actual size. I had a 17” Thin Crash I wanted to use as a hat, and found out it was 17.25”. So I was asking sellers to measure theirs to make sure theirs was also 17.25”. Zildjian fudges their sizing a bit. When I went to Paiste, they’re actually accurate.
Click to expand...
The Paiste Twenty series was Zildjian-like and not as accurate as most Paiste lines. I had a 16" Twenty crash that was actually 16.25". I wanted to use it as a hi-hat top, but sold it because the size was off.
 
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